Customs agents seize $344,000 worth of fake perfume

Customs agents have seized about $344,000 worth of fake perfume at the Port of Houston, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported Thursday.

Officers seized the shipment from India of more than 5,000 bottles of perfume on Feb. 21, after they confirmed the merchandise violated trademark laws, according to a news release.

The shipment arrived at the Port of Houston on Jan. 24, headed for Dallas.

“When it got to Houston, our officers had already targeted it for examination. It was examined here,” agency spokeswoman Yolanda Choates said.

During the inspection, officers found bottles labeled as Flirt or Sensuous, which are Estee Lauder trademarks, the release said.

Bottles of counterfeit Flirt perfume were seized Feb. 21 at the Port of Houston. Credit: CBP

Officers sent photos and samples of the merchandise to Customs and Border Protection headquarters where a consultation with the trademark holder confirmed that the perfume was fake, the agency said.

In 2011, the value of counterfeit perfume and cologne seized by customs officers increased nearly five times, to $9.4 million.

Customs and Border Protection could fine the importer as much as the street value of the fake merchandise — $344,000, according to the news release.

“CBP officers are actively enforcing trade laws and protecting legitimate business owners and consumers from copyright and trademark infringements,” said Acting Houston Director of Field Operations, Judson W. Murdock II.

“When we identify products as counterfeit or confusingly similar, we take the necessary steps to protect the consumer and seize the shipment, preventing criminals from profiting from this type of illegal activity.”